Bottle brush structure

ABSTRACT

A BOTTLE BRUSH COMPRISES A FLEXIBLE SPONGY MASS SECURED TO AN ELONGATE HANDLE BY A LENGTH OF WIRE PENETRATING THROUGH BOTH STATED ELEMENTS IN SUCH MANNER AS TO PRODUCE UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF REACTION LOADS DURING USE OF THE BRUSH.

March 16, 1971 v. F. JONES BOTTLE BRUSH STRUCTURE Filed 001:. 22, 1969 /A/ VIEW 7'02. VERNON E JOA/Es United States Patent O 3,570,038 BOTTLE BRUSH STRUCTURE Vernon F. Jones, 1132 W. 124th St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90044 Continuation-impart of abandoned application Ser. No.

728,576, May 13, 1968. This application Oct. 22, 1969,

Ser. No. 871,461

Int. Cl. A471 17/00 US. Cl. -244 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bottle brush comprises a flexible spongy mass secured to an elongate handle by a length of wire penetrating through both stated elements in such manner as to produce uniform distribution of reaction loads during use of the brush.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 728,576 filed May 13, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cleaning of delicate glassware such as thermos bottle inner elements, infant nursing bottles, and the like, frequently requires frictional contact of a relatively soft mass against the surface which is sought to be cleaned in order to loosen or soften dried or sticky particles adhering to such surface. The most common devices used for providing frictional contact in the foregoing context broadly comprise a flexible, easily deformed mass such as a sponge adapted to contact the surface sought to be cleaned, and an elongate handle for transmitting force from the operators hand to the stated mass. The amount and direction of the force applied to the holding end of the handle naturally vary over a wide range during each use of the device. All of the force applied to the holding end of the handle must be transmitted to the spongy mass at the opposite or cleaning end of the device, and the corresponding reaction loads resulting from such force are similarly transmitted between the two principal elements of the device. Strong, secure and positive structural connection means are required for transmitting loads from the handle to the spongy mass and vice versa. Some of the mentioned applied force tends to displace the attached mass in a longitudinal direction relative to the handle, while some would result in its lateral displacement, in the absence of means effectively preventing the same. Due to the inherent flexibility and commensurate lack of structural strength in sponges and the like, firm and reliable holding means between the handle and the deformable mass are difficult to achieve. Any such means which result in non-uniform or unsymmetrical force distribution patterns within the spongy mass generally result in the stated mass working itself gradually looser until it finally tears into fragments or separates completely from the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns holding means between a generally cubical sponge mass and an elongate handle, the stated means being adapted to transmit both applied and reaction loads between the two mentioned elements in a manner which produces substantially uniform stress patterns in the sponge mass to avoid destructive overstress and non-symmetrical load concentration therein. Thus, the spongy mass 13 has a center hole 14 therein containing the lower distal end 16 of an elongate shaft 10. A transverse hole 30 through shaft 10 receives a cord or wire 23 which also pierces through the center portion of mass 13, thus preventing either longitudinal or rotational ice displacement of such mass relative to handle 10. Cord 23 is coiled about the outer surface of mass 13 tightly to compress the mid-portion thereof into firm gripping contact with handle 10, and the opposite ends of the cord are tied in a permanent knot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a device incorporating the inventive principles disclosed herein,

FIG. 2 is an isolated perspective view of the handle shown in FIG. 1 before assembly with the remaining components of the device,

FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view of the flexible mass shown in FIG. 1 before assembly with the handle shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the components shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but structurally interconnected during an intermediate step in assembling the device shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1, partly in cross-section to show the internal struc-,

tural connection thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the invention contemplates a device for reaching within substantially closed containers such as thermos bottles, infant nursing bottles and the like, to clean the same. The device thus shown is of the type commonly termed a bottle brush, and is generally designated by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1.

Brush 10 essentially comprises a cleaning head 11 and an elongate support or handle 12 secured thereto. Cleaning head 11 illustratively consists of a cube or block 13 of cellulose sponge material or the like, compressed into the shape shown by FIG. 1 and designated by reference numeral 17. Holding means for securing the two principal components of brush 10 together comprise a ligature which may take the form of a wire 23 made from brass or other soft metal, and wrapped around block 13 at midportion 24 thereof. Wire 23 is threaded through transverse passage 26 in block 13, and also through transverse passage 30 in end 16 of handle 12. The opposite ends 31 of wire 23 extend outwardly and exteriorly of block 13, and are easily deformable to wind the wire tightly about the block to form cleaning head 11 in FIG. 1.

Fabrication of brush 10 begins with cutting block 13 from a larger sheet or slab of cellulose sponge material (not shown). The mentioned material can be most conveniently cut when in the dry state. Similarly, holes 26 and 14 in block 13 as shown by FIG. 3 can be easily bored, drilled or punched therethrough by a punch press, drill press or the like.

Centrally disposed opening 14 is thus provided at one end 15 of block 13 to communicate with internal passage 25. Transverse passage 26 in block 13 intersects passage 25 and extends to openings 27 on opposite sides 28 and 29 of the block as shown particularly by FIG. 3.

To assemble the bottle brush, end 16- of handle 12 is forcibly inserted into passage 25 of block 13 with hole 30 axially aligned with passage 26 as suggested particularly in FIG. 4. Brass wire 23 is then inserted through passages 26 and 30 with end portions 31 of the wire protruding equidistantly from both sides of block 13. Wire 23 is then deformed as required to wrap its opposite ends an equal number of turns in opposite directions about midportion 24 of block 13, and the ends 31 are thereafter twisted or soldered together. It will be understood that flexible elements such as string or the like could be used in place of wire 23, but the use of wire is preferred because it facilitates assembly of the components. Moreover, because cellulose sponge in the dry state is rigid and relatively inflexible, the wire-wrapping step described above may result in wire 23 cutting into the dry mass of block 13. Hence, it is preferred to initially wet block 13 in Water to soften the same before the wire-wrapping step, after which the compressive force of the Wire will deform block 13 into the hourglass shape of FIG. 1 without cutting into the mass thereof.

In operation, brush is dipped in water or a soapy solution thereof, and inserted through the normally narrow neck of a bottle or other container. The highly pliable cleaning head 11 easily deforms by compressive forces applied thereon as during entry into narrow bottle necks or the like, and thereafter provides substantial area surface contact with all portions of the interior surface of the container sought to be cleaned.

Force is naturally applied to handle 12 at the upper holding end thereof by the users hand as required to force cleaning head 11 into firm contact with the mentioned inner surfaces, and to move the mass 13 frictionally across such surfaces while maintaining such contact. During up and down movement of cleaning head 11, for example, the reaction loads on mass 13 will be substantially opposite and equal to the applied forces causing such movement. Since both the applied and the reaction loads must be transmitted through the connection securing mass 13 and handle 12 together, it is essential that all risk of loosening of such connection be scrupulously avoided. It has been found, for example, that any unbalance or lack of symmetry in the direction or pattern of loads transmitted into or out of mass 13 will eventually and unavoidably cause rupture of the pliable sponge mass, especially due to its relatively low structural strength when wet. Since wire 23 is centered within block 13 and is wrapped in opposite directions ther-eabout in an equal number of turns, and draws all the exterior surfaces of block 13 inwardly an equal amount toward handle 12, the desired symmetry is achieved by the securing means disclosed herein. Moreover, since the wire pierces completely through block 13 and handle 12, both elements are necessarily immovable longitudinally relative to each other, and the resistance to such movement is applied equally to both opposite side portions of the sponge mass 13 rather than unsymmetrically to one side thereof, as would result from having a single nail or the like pierce the mass 13 and the handle 12 from only one side of the mass. Similarly, rotation of mass 13 relative to handle 12 is also prevented by equal and opposite holding force offered by wire 23 to both sides 28 and 29 of the mass.

I claim:

1. A cleaning device for bottles and the like, comprising:

a spongy mass of relatively pliable material having a central passage therein,

elongate force-transmitting handle means including a handle with a transverse hole therethrough proximate one end thereof, said handle being situated with said one end contained completely within said central passage, and

holding means comprising a ligature for holding said spongy mass and said handle in fixed structural relationship to each other, said ligature extending transversely through said mass and said transverse hole and wound tightly about said mass to compress the same uniformly inwardly toward said one end of said handle.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 above, wherein:

said spongy mass is a block of cellulose sponge material having two opposite ends and a mid-portion, and

said ligature is wound an equal number of turns in opposite directions about said mid-portion of said block.

3. In a bottle brush for cleaning bottles and the like:

a generally cubical mass of spongy material,

an elongate handle for applying forces to said mass to move the same in continuous surface area contact with said bottle,

ligature means for securing said handle and said mass together in symmetrical load-transferring relationship to provide substantially equal reaction forces on opposite sides of said generally cubical mass in response to said applied forces,

said ligature means comprising an elongate wire having opposite ends and a center portion equidistantly therebetween, i

said wire penetrating completely through both said mass and said handle with said opposite ends of said wire wound in opposite directions an equal number of turns about said mass to compress the same against said handle.

References Cited 9/1908 France 15244(.0) 7/ 1911 Austria 15-207 6/ 1928 Great Britain 15244.4

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner 

